Producing Annual and Alternative Crops for Forage

Annual crops can be a valuable part of the normal farm operation. They are used to provide supplemental forage when perennial forage production is low. Additionally, under drought conditions, these annual crops may be the only choices available for emergency sources of forage. There are also several alternative crops available that can be used as forage crops. This publication provides general information and specific agronomic information about these crops

Available Grass Varieties for South Dakota

Grasslands of South Dakota total approximately 30 million acres and comprise an important source of agricultural income in the state. When adapted varieties of the most productive species are combined with proper management, grassland yields can be increased greatly. This publication is designed to assist producers in the selection of grass species and varieties for South Dakota pastures, rangelands, and conservation plantings. A short description of each species is followed by a listing of available varieties within that species. The origin, description, date of release, and recommended area of adaptation for each variety are given. Other variety within a species, that also may be available but are either not adapted or for which a limited amount of seed exists, also are listed. Areas of adaptation are shown in Figure 1. Information on the yield potential of the grass cultivars is included if available. Although several species or cultivars may be listed as adapted to your area, base your selection on production and management goals, soil type, and climate adaptability. The areas of adaptation given in this publication are broad geographic areas. Many species are adapted only to a certain soil type. They also may be more productive in one part of the zone than another. For these reasons, the authors recommend that you consult your county Extension or Soil Conservation Service office for further details before selecting a species or variety for planting

Production of Annual and Alternative Crops for Forage

Annual crops can be a valuable part of the normal farm operation. They are used to provide supplemental forage when perennial forage production is low. Additionally, under drought conditions these annual crops may be the only choices available for emergency sources of forage. There are also several alternative crops available that can be used as forage crops. This report provides some general information concerning these crops and also presents specific agronomic information in the form of a table

Alfalfa Autotoxicity

Alfalfa producers have observed for many years that attempts to re-establish alfalfa into existing alfalfa stands quite frequently result in failure. In recent years, researchers have begun to suspect that established alfalfa plants may produce toxic compounds that reduce or inhibit the germination of new alfalfa seedlings. The purpose of this publication is to summarize sane of the recent research findings and to describe cultural practices that will help insure success when reseeding alfalfa

Forage Potential of Birdsfoot Trefoil

Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) is a perennial legume similar to alfalfa in growth habit. This species generally is adapted to the temperate climate of the northern part of the United States, where it is a hay and pasture crop of major importance. Birdsfoot trefoil is suitable for South Dakota, but it has not been planted in large acreages in the state primarily because of the popularity of alfalfa as a hay and pasture crop. Birdsfoot trefoil, however, has several characteristics that make it superior to alfalfa in certain situations. It deserves consideration as a possible South Dakota forage crop

Use of Seed Coating and Fungicide Seed Treatment in Establishing Alfalfa

Establishing a good stand is an important step in the efficient and profitable production of alfalfa. Site selection, seedbed preparation, seeding method, depth of seeding, and other agronomic factors can affect stand establishment. In some cases, seed and seedling diseases can be a significant problem in alfalfa. Damping-off (caused by Pythium spp. And Phytophthora megasperma) generally is recognized as the primary disease problem affecting alfalfa establishment. Problems due to damping-off can be significant, particularly when alfalfa is planted into poorly drained soils. In addition to site selection, fungicide seed treatment is one way to minimize losses from damping-off. For maximum plant vigor and N-fixing capability, inoculation of alfalfa seed with the appropriate rhizobia bacteria prior to planting is essential. Seed coating is a relatively new development in the alfalfa seed industry. Lime is used as the seed coating base to which rhizobia and possibly fungicide seed treatments are added. Seed coating is intended to increase stand density compared to noncoated seed, but results have been variable

Harvest Management for Producing Alfalfa in South Dakota

Harvest management affects yield, quality, and persistence of alfalfa. While producers may strive for high yield, excellent forage quality, and stand longevity, all of these goals are difficult to achieve with one system of harvest management. Compromise among these three factors is often necessary. To determine which harvest management system is best for you, you need to understand how yield, quality, and persistence are influenced by plant maturity and harvest methods

Reestablishing Alfalfa into Existing Stands Damaged by Flooding

Excess moisture conditions in 1993 caused damage to many stands of alfalfa throughout South Dakota. Floods killed alfalfa in many low-lying areas, and in some instances, entire stands were lost because of excess water. Alfalfa cannot tolerate wet soil conditions for an extended period of time. Several diseases that persist under wet conditions can further damage or even kill alfalfa plants. In addition, standing water can damage plants by reducing oxygen levels necessary for adequate respiration within the plant

Forage Potential of Cicer Milkvetch

Cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L), a legume native from the Causcasus Mountains in Asia across southern Europe to Spain, was introduced into the United States in the 1920’s. It’s used for grazing, hay, and soil conservation in the northern and central Rocky Mountain Region of the United States and western Canada. Cicer milkvetch is gaining popularity in other regions of the United States because it is more tolerant than alfalfa to acidic or alkaline soils and does not cause bloat in grazing animals. Several South Dakota producers planted small acreages of cicer milkvetch in spring 1989. These acreages are being monitored, and producer experiences with this crop will be publicized

Teaching a Forage Crops Course to Extension Agents via Distance Education

An opportunity arose at Louisiana State University (LSU) to teach a forage ecology and management course over distance education to 30 Extension agricultural field agents. Many of these agents had not taken a college-level course in several years. All of the agents performed well in the course. While the distance education technology worked reasonably well in this course, the majority of the agents indicated that they would still rather take courses in a conventional classroom setting. Results of this teaching experience indicate that distance education technologies provide unique opportunities but that maintaining direct student-instructor interaction can be a challenge